Story 1207: Hostile Takeover

INT. ZONE 9 — LOCKDOWN CORE, DARKENED CONTROL ROOM — MOMENTS LATER

Sparks popped from the ruined console. The emergency lights kicked in—dull red, pulsing slowly like a heartbeat. Jason coughed through the smoke, checking on Lena and Dr. Rho.

JASON:

“We’re sealed in. No exit, no signal.”

DR. RHO (groaning):

“Someone wanted us here… and now they’re watching.”

A monitor crackled back to life. A face appeared—hooded, masked, but human. Eyes bright with fanaticism.

MASKED VOICE:

“You delivered the specimen. As expected.”

The camera panned—multiple feeds showing the group’s entry, their struggle, their access to the lockdown terminal. All recorded.

LENA (grim):

“They’ve been monitoring us since the sewers.”

DR. RHO:

“They planned this. The lockdown, the pod… even the fight in the tunnels. All orchestrated.”

JASON (snarling):

“Who are you?”

MASKED VOICE:

“We are the Harbingers. We do not fear the infection. We guide it.”